A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

Ah...
I believe that Crake had a write-up for this... That he even reposted lately...

But I also think that Azel had one, too..?
Can't seem to find it tho'

Edit: Craked

DragonParadox said:

Shadow and Ink ​

Twenty-Third Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

Given how little you know of Ser Renly's origins, much less whatever power may have set him upon the world, you chose to summon the Orphne King forth rather than travel into his fastness. The shadows thicken and take form as the crownless king steps forth, his searching gaze passing in turn upon you and the knight in green. "You have grown, Your Grace."

"I have, yes," you reply, a touch startled by the insight, into the dream of flame and the knowledge you gained by its light. Did he see as deeply into the true nature of the man standing besides you? "This is Ser Renly, a changeling who discovered his nature by chance and now wishes to venture into the Feywild to learn the fate of the boy he replaced years ago."

"Why?" the lord of the shadow fey asks, his voice revealing no judgement of the matter.

"Because I remember his life and I do not think he would have abandoned it unless he was deceived," the knight replied. "I would set right the injustice to which I was made party to."

"A grand ambition," the orphne fey muses, causing the magelights to flicker blue like candles in the wind as he moves through the room. "Is it your will, Your Grace, that I aid in this?"

You nod in confirmation. Little as you may care for Renly Baratheon for his own sake, you know the fey knight will not be at peace until he has found his counterpart and learned the secret of his birth. "Yes, with guides who know the paths of the Feywild and can navigate whatever pitfalls might present themselves."

"Wise you are to know that shadows make better guides than light," a faint smile flashes across his pale face. A moment later he is gone, not even a whisper in the air to mark his passage.

Ser Renly sinks back into his seat. "Is he always so cryptic?"

"It is his nature," Dany replies softly.

The knight does not speak his next question, but it is writ clear upon his face. What then is my nature? To that you have no answer, but you are certain he will keep looking until he finds it.

***​

That afternoon you find yourself before a decision that concerns not kings, mortals, or fey, but the common people of Westeros; enchantments of truespeech upon arcane hardened parchment. The works of angels and artificers had seen to it that any who set eyes upon the messages will understand what is written upon them to the letter, but the question remains of what shall you say and who shall you say it to?

You certainly do not lack for secrets to make use of, but this is not the moment to use the greatest of them. In the end, the smallfolk, no less than lords and ladies, wish to know their children safe and their future secured, and while Robert Baratheon slouches upon the Iron Throne and Tywin Lannister spins strands of gold and lies they shall never be. Beyond that, however, there are other concerns to address, from the acceptance of mages to explaining esoteric threats and what can be done to protect oneself against them. The Lannisters had sent letters to the lords. You would send a message to all of Westeros.

What pamphlets do you scatter over Westeros and where do you deliver them?

[] Write in

OOC: You guys can assume the distribution has already begun, this is just the opportunity to semi-retroactively decide the details.

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Made a few minor edits to the chapter, DP.

Crake said:

...oh boy. Let me find the political cartoon post real quick. Some of those suggestions were good.

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Along with commentary, which should be tasteful and not trollific, we can include useful information about common threats. Maybe one side of the page can start by listing common monster weaknesses?

[X] Crake

[X] Create a series of politically charged caricatures, accompanied by a sheet carrying a version of statements from yourself, as well as other information collated together seeking to inform people of the state of the world, nothing that a well-traveled sailor could not pick up in a port, but purged of the most outlandish inaccuracies and seeking to educate and inform--hopefully the fact that most of what is happening in the world is actually quite riveting when given the right prose will keep people passing it along as-written.
--[X] You will also try to include an editorial on the Grand Tournament, since everyone else got a foreword about the Traitor's Tourney, why not regale the continent on the mighty deeds of daring that the visitors accomplished over that month instead of whispering and screaming of abandoned duty? After all, you are the rightful King, not Robert. Why should he get the final say?
-[X] 1. The Warlock of the West
Description: The picture shows Tywin Lannister sitting on the Rock. In his hands is a small person in robes, standing for a mage, to which he wants to affix a collar with chain. Nearby stands a huge cauldron with many mages chained to it and reluctantly tending to it. In it bubbles a repulsive liquid, with bones and skulls being seen inside, and it splashes goop all over the Westerlands, with a large glop landing square on Lannisport.
Caption: "They will do as they are told."
Locations: Lannisport, Kayce (trade harbor), Crakehall (trading city on the Ocean Road)
-[X] 2. Thirst
Description: Tywin Lannister and Robert Baratheon loom over the Red Mountains, looking down at Dorne. Both of them carry a goblet from which Robert drinks, while Tywin holds his one down to Gregor Clegane, who stands there and lets the blood running from a peasants severed head drip into the goblet.
Caption: "We will get our fill!"
Locations: Sunspear, Hellholt, Godsgrace
-[X] 3. Stolen Legacies
Description: Looming like a giant, his head sticking out of a lion's mouth, the head mounted upon the shoulders of a Golden Shield knight, one giant brazen hand lifts the top of Dragonstone's castle and reaches down and up to pull away a fistful of tabards, tapestries and keepsakes marked with Targaryen heraldry and regalia. Dragon Eggs fall between fat fingers and smash themselves on top of Duskendale, King's Landing and Storm's End lain upon a tableau like a map, tiny figures scurrying around and chased by stampeding stags and prowling lions.
Caption: "The legacy of a thief."
Locations: King's Landing, Duskendale, Dragonstone, Driftmark
-[X] 4. Important Matters
Description: Robert Baratheon sits in a tavern hall, which is richly festooned in hunting trophies and with various frippery. He is busy ogling a whore that fills his wine cup. Behind his back, Cersei sits on the Iron Throne and torments various people with sorcery and laughing at them, while a few of the people in the hall are dragged away by demonic figures reaching out of the shadows. Beneath them all, there is a scene of starving peasants knifing each other in the streets.
Caption: "What could be more important then this?"
Locations: Kings Landing, Duskendale, Dragonstone
-[X] 5. The Great Rulers
Description: A large picture of the whole Riverlands, with three giants standing on it, their steps having left deep craters in it. One can only see the legs of the giants, but they are clearly marked by the house sigils of Tully, Lannister and the Crowned Stag. Meanwhile, the peasants and lords look upward in fear for where the giants will step next.
Caption: "The dance of the high lords."
Locations: Riverrung, Saltpans, Maidenpool, Harrenhall, Seaguard
-[X] 6. Absent
Description: A depiction of the Vale, with the Eyrie in the center. Upon it stands and empty chair. Around it, both Andals and Hill Folk are locked in combat with Demons and Devils.
Caption: "Everyone for himself."
Locations: The Eyrie, Gulltown
-[X] 7. No Help Coming
Description: A depiction of the North, including the Wall. There is a massive breach in the Wall and the Night's Watch rushes to fill it in, aided by what is clearly Legionnaires under the Targ banner, and is trying desperately to close it off, while directly ahead of it a forest with clawed hands and slavering jaws peers southwards. To the South itself, Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, Tywin Lannister and Robert Baratheon stand opposite of Ned Stark. Robert clutches a Targ banner and is clearly yelling at Ned.
Caption: "How dare you to let my enemies in?"
Locations: Winterfell, White Harbor
-[X] Start serializing a "Monster's Manual", focusing on common threats to the individual regions, and slowly expanding outward.

Goldfish said:

Along with commentary, which should be tasteful and not trollific, we can include useful information about common threats. Maybe one side of the page can start by listing common monster weaknesses?

[X] Crake

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Added to the end.

[X] Crake

Oh, those are just fantastic.

@Crake the last caption reveals that the Others are coming, the Lord Comander did ask you not to spread that news yet, though granted circumstances have changed/ Still nothing was said about that when lst you visited the wall so I thought I'd mention it.

Some of these... Kinda seem like an immediate escalation to reconquest to me..?

[X] Crake
But whatever, its not like I am anywhat versed in westerosi politics to judge.

I can't believe we spent so long getting the truespeak right when we were just going to spread picture.
What happened to angry pamphlets about how to run a proper government? About justice, fair rule, and how horrible the opposition is?
The people aren't stupid, you know.

[X] Crake

DragonParadox said:

@Crake the last caption reveals that the Others are coming, the Lord Comander did ask you not to spread that news yet, though granted circumstances have changed/ Still nothing was said about that when lst you visited the wall so I thought I'd mention it.

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-[X] 7. No Help Coming
Description: A depiction of the North, including the Wall. There is a massive breach in the Wall and the Night's Watch rushes to fill it in, aided by what is clearly Legionnaires under the Targ banner, and is trying desperately to close it off, while directly ahead of it a forest with clawed hands and slavering jaws peers southwards. To the South itself, Jon Arryn, Hoster Tully, Tywin Lannister and Robert Baratheon stand opposite of Ned Stark. Robert clutches a Targ banner and is clearly yelling at Ned.
Caption: "How dare you to let my enemies in?"
Locations: Winterfell, White Harbor

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Better?

@DragonParadox, are the lords of the Reach whom we've subverted aware of the plans of the Court of Stars and the Tyrells or is that something we haven't gotten around to fully explaining to them yet?

[X] Crake

Well this will be fun.

Crake said:

Better?

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Yes, no hint of Others. That said if you guys want to ask the Lord Commander about this you can. He is just one teleportation away.

DragonParadox said:

Yes, no hint of Others. That said if you guys want to ask the Lord Commander about this you can. He is just one teleportation away.

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I think this kind of information should be revealed in a Great Council equivalent event. I was thinking we should form a House of Lords to help the aristocracy better represent their interests in a manner which actually follows formal protocol for the Imperium rather than trying to bluster their way into our capital with demands or requests.

[X] Crake

Duesal said:

@DragonParadox, are the lords of the Reach whom we've subverted aware of the plans of the Court of Stars and the Tyrells or is that something we haven't gotten around to fully explaining to them yet?

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You told both Redwyne and Tarly from what I remember.

DragonParadox said:

You told both Redwyne and Tarly from what I remember.

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Okay, so Hightower needs to know, along with Florent.

[X] Crake

And we get a peasant revolt in three...two...one.

TalonofAnathrax said:

I can't believe we spent so long getting the truespeak right when we were just going to spread picture.
What happened to angry pamphlets about how to run a proper government? About justice, fair rule, and how horrible the opposition is?
The people aren't stupid, you know.

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We should include an actual common message, too, @Crake. The pictures have their place, but like Talon says, that's not making full use of the press' capabilities.

Make it Poor Richard's(heh) Almanac style, albeit more about threats than gossip?

[X] Crake

Goldfish said:

We should include an actual common message, too, @Crake. The pictures have their place, but like Talon says, that's not making full use of the press' capabilities.

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Write something and I'll add it? The fact of the matter is public address is a better way to inform people that injustices have been served and will be righted, since it puts a face to who is righting those injustices in the same breath.

Reading about how they're being ill-serviced and how incompetent their rulers are is all well and good, but it's just magic paper at the end of the day, paper that many peasants will burn on principle even if a quarter of them don't and pass it along to others who will also be outraged.

Crake said:

Write something and I'll add it? The fact of the matter is public address is a better way to inform people that injustices have been served and will be righted, since it puts a face to who is righting those injustices in the same breath.

Reading about how they're being ill-serviced and how incompetent their rulers are is all well and good, but it's just magic paper at the end of the day, paper that many peasants will burn on principle even if a quarter of them don't and pass it along to others who will also be outraged.

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Aw, man, I'm not good at writing this kind of stuff.

Let me see what I can come up with.

It'll be interesting to see anyone try to burn the broadsheets, though. Given their low volume, Viserys should have cast the Hardening spell on them himself rather than just using the Hardening Chamber. With a Hardness of 10, anything short of a very hot forge isn't going to do more than singe the edges of the broadsheets.

If we want to be tongue-in-cheek, print out an 'Operations for the safety of Westeros' - a completely accurate one barring perhaps strategic goals of ours in progress. Then base the Monster Manual out of said encounters and what little could peasants have done against them.

Dread Sorcerer Viserys Targaryen
- Event 1
- Event 2
-

Lannisters, the faith, the crown and so on.

"Because while busy doing a dozen other more important things, yet found the time guard you lot, my once and future subjects. You are welcome!"

@Crake, hit the disney tunes.

Goldfish said:

Aw, man, I'm not good at writing this kind of stuff.

Let me see what I can come up with.

It'll be interesting to see anyone try to burn the broadsheets, though. Given their low volume, Viserys should have cast the Hardening spell on them himself rather than just using the Hardening Chamber. With a Hardness of 10, anything short of a very hot forge isn't going to do more than singe the edges of the broadsheets.

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You don't have to make it an actual speech, is your advantage here, but an actual idea of what information you want to convey would go a long way. Again, holding a rally and getting people fired up to spread the tale is what works with the every-man, and every peasant is an "every-man" hyper-conservative person. If you want them to go along with outlandish, even allegedly to their benefit ideas, they will want to look you in the eye or at least see what kind of man is making those claims/offers.

They may not be stupid, but they're still superstitious and only trust actions and the effects of those actions as being real, whatever puts food on the table. Tales of the heroic exile prince who will save maidens fair and strike off the chains of tyranny are mad fancies that are fun to talk about in a tavern, but it doesn't concern the blacksmith, the miller or the merchant, it doesn't matter one fucking bit to the nightsoil collector either.